Adelup and the Northern Mariana governor’s office have confirmed that federal officials are traveling to the islands this week to talk about plans lease up to 35.5 million acres of seafloor to mining companies.
The companies hope to collect critical minerals for use in defense and technology industries.
The proposal, announced in November, has drawn opposition from elected officials on Guam and the CNMI.
While public comments solicited by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management are overwhelmingly opposed to allowing seabed mining in the region, some proponents have argued that mining could provide economic benefits for the islands.
The group Prutehi Guåhan has organized a protest from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Governor's Complex at Adelup, to coincide with the visit.
